Mirza S Khan1,2,3, Robert J Carroll3. 1. Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Tennessee Valley Health System Veterans Administration Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 2. Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 3. Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Measurement and data entry of height and weight values are error prone. Aggregation of medical record data from multiple sites creates new challenges prompting the need to identify and correct errant values. We sought to characterize and correct issues with height and weight measurement values within the All of Us (AoU) Research Program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the AoU Researcher Workbench, we assessed site-level measurement value distributions to infer unit types. We also used plausibility checks with exceptions for conditions with possible outlier values, eg obesity, and assessed for excess deviation within individual participant's records. RESULTS: 15.8% of height and 22.4% of weight values had missing unit type information. DISCUSSION: We identified several measurement unit related issues: the use of different units of measure within and between sites, missing units, and incorrect labeling of units. Failure to account for these in patient data repositories may lead to erroneous study results and conclusions. CONCLUSION: Discrepancies in height and weight measurement data may arise from missing or mislabeled units. Using site- and participant-level analyses while accounting for outlier value-associated clinical conditions, we can infer measurement units and apply corrections. These methods are adaptable and expandable within AoU and other data repositories.
OBJECTIVE: Measurement and data entry of height and weight values are error prone. Aggregation of medical record data from multiple sites creates new challenges prompting the need to identify and correct errant values. We sought to characterize and correct issues with height and weight measurement values within the All of Us (AoU) Research Program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the AoU Researcher Workbench, we assessed site-level measurement value distributions to infer unit types. We also used plausibility checks with exceptions for conditions with possible outlier values, eg obesity, and assessed for excess deviation within individual participant's records. RESULTS: 15.8% of height and 22.4% of weight values had missing unit type information. DISCUSSION: We identified several measurement unit related issues: the use of different units of measure within and between sites, missing units, and incorrect labeling of units. Failure to account for these in patient data repositories may lead to erroneous study results and conclusions. CONCLUSION: Discrepancies in height and weight measurement data may arise from missing or mislabeled units. Using site- and participant-level analyses while accounting for outlier value-associated clinical conditions, we can infer measurement units and apply corrections. These methods are adaptable and expandable within AoU and other data repositories.
Authors: Polly Hitchcock Noël; Laurel A Copeland; Ruth A Perrin; A Elizabeth Lancaster; Mary Jo Pugh; Chen-Pin Wang; Mary J Bollinger; Helen P Hazuda Journal: J Rehabil Res Dev Date: 2010
Authors: A Muthalagu; J A Pacheco; S Aufox; P L Peissig; J T Fuehrer; G Tromp; A N Kho; L J Rasmussen-Torvik Journal: Appl Clin Inform Date: 2014-02-19 Impact factor: 2.342
Authors: Tiffany M Powell-Wiley; Paul Poirier; Lora E Burke; Jean-Pierre Després; Penny Gordon-Larsen; Carl J Lavie; Scott A Lear; Chiadi E Ndumele; Ian J Neeland; Prashanthan Sanders; Marie-Pierre St-Onge Journal: Circulation Date: 2021-04-22 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Joshua C Denny; Joni L Rutter; David B Goldstein; Anthony Philippakis; Jordan W Smoller; Gwynne Jenkins; Eric Dishman Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2019-08-15 Impact factor: 176.079
Authors: Shawn N Murphy; Shyam Visweswaran; Michael J Becich; Thomas R Campion; Boyd M Knosp; Genevieve B Melton-Meaux; Leslie A Lenert Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2022-03-15 Impact factor: 7.942